Motility of ram spermatozoa during storage in a chemically-defined diluent containing antioxidants.
The effects of five antioxidants--Vitamin E (VE), butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), n-propyl gallate (n-PG), deferoxamine mesylate (Desferal) and catalase (EC 1 . 11 . 1 . 6)--on the maintenance of motility of ram spermatozoa in a chemically-defined ram semen diluent (RSD-1) have been evaluated. VE, n-PG and Desferal inhibited spermatozoal motility. The relative inhibition (i.e., ratio of change in % motility over 24 h between the treatment group and the corresponding control) at equimolar concentrations (100 microM) of Desferal, VE and n-PG were 1.6, 1.8 and 3.6 respectively. BHA had no effect at 10 microM but at lower concentrations, gave a slight improvement in motility in freshly diluted spermatozoal samples and in those stored for 1 day at 15 degrees C. The addition of catalase to RSD-1 was also ineffective in improving the motility of spermatozoa. The lack of beneficial effects of the tested antioxidants suggests that RSD-1 itself may destroy reactive oxygen species and the antioxidant activity of RSD-1 components requires further study.
Upreti
G C
GC
AgResearch, Diary and Beef Division, Ruakura Research Centre, Hamilton, New Zealand. upretig@agresearch.cri.nz
Jensen
K
K
Oliver
J E
JE
Duganzich
D M
DM
Munday
R
R
Smith
J F
JF
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002083:Butylated Hydroxyanisole / Q000494:pharmacology; D002374:Catalase / Q000494:pharmacology; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods*; D003451:Cryoprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003676:Deferoxamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D011435:Propyl Gallate / Q000494:pharmacology; D012662:Semen Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D012756:Sheep / Q000502:physiology*; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology
D000975:Antioxidants; D003451:Cryoprotective Agents; D014810:Vitamin E; D002083:Butylated Hydroxyanisole; D011435:Propyl Gallate; D002374:Catalase; D003676:Deferoxamine